Indonesia-Australia alliance: The state of defence cooperation

Indonesian F-16 jets prepare to take off for joint training exercises with the RAAF in Darwin today.

ABC News: Mark Di Stefano

Australian and Indonesian defence cooperation has significantly increased since the signing of the Lombok Treaty in November 2006 between then foreign minister Alexander Downer and his Indonesian counterpart Hassan Wirajuda.

The treaty committed each country to consult in defence, counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing and security.

In 2012 the two nations signed a Defence Cooperation Agreement providing a framework for further cooperation and in the last year Australian and Indonesian defence forces have conducted the highest levels of training and exercises with each other since the mid-1990s.

Currently Australia is in the process of transferring four C-130H aircraft for use in natural disasters and humanitarian issues to Indonesia. The first is due to be delivered within weeks.

The timetable was confirmed by Defence Minister David Johnston on an official visit to Jakarta two weeks ago.

During that visit Mr Johnston spoke in glowing terms about defence ties between the two countries.

"Australia's relationship with Indonesia is our most important in the region, for reasons of size, geographic proximity and shared mutual interests. Indonesia’s importance to us will only grow as its significant regional influence becomes global," he said.

Mr Johnston said cooperation is extensive and links would grow in future.

"Together, Australia and Indonesia have now conducted four Coordinated Maritime Security Patrols of our shared maritime borders since 2010," he said.

"We conducted our first humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercise in June, and we established a new infantry exercise Wirra Jaya in September.

"This is all in addition to our existing program of defence engagement, which this year includes an Air Force fighter exercise, two naval exercises, and two counter-hijack and hostage recovery exercises."

At the Jakarta meeting Mr Johnston expressed his wish to broaden and deepen dialogue on the emerging challenges of cyber security.